HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN FLAGS |
Choose fabric that is lightweight, resists creasing, and is the same on both sides. Paper/tissue lame fabric comes in several metallic shades. Crystal organza and lightweight silky polyester also work well. For a medium sized flag use 1 yard of 45in wide (90cm of 112cm wide) fabric. The poles are made out of half inch (12mm) thick wooden dowelling, available from D.I.Y./hardware shops in 8ft (2.4m) lengths. Saw in half to make two 4ft (1.2m) poles. You may like to have the poles shorter but you can try them and cut them down later. Rub the cut edges with sandpaper to avoid rough areas damaging the flags. Ensure that all the fabric edges are straight and square and machine a narrow hem around both long edges and one short edge. Press with an iron on a cool setting.. Press a quarter inch of the unstitched edge to the wrong side. To protect the flag fabric from being worn by the pole, use a small piece of iron-on interfacing or cotton tape on the inside of the top of the pole channel. Tape can either be sewn in or attached with a fabric bonding agent. Fold the fabric over again and pin, leaving a channel large enough to insert the pole. Machine this, continuing the stitching to the edge of the flag at the top to stop the pole coming out the other end. |
LARGE FLAGS These are 9ft (2.7m) long x 7ft (2.1m) wide! Pole - 3/4 inch (15mm) thickness wooden dowelling one 8ft (2.4m) length Fabric - 6 yards (5.4m) of 45inch (112cm) wide material Cut the fabric into two 3 yard (2.7m) lengths, and machine them together side by side. Machine hems and pole channel as above. |
SMALL FLAGS Good for smaller children, made as above but scale down the sizes of fabric and length of pole. 3/8 inch (9mm) dowelling would work well, an 8ft (2.4m) length cut into 3 x 32inch (80cm) pieces. Using 1yd & 1/8th (1m) of 45 inch (112cm) wide fabric, you can cut in half both ways. This will make 4 small flags. |
KEEPING FLAGS ON THEIR POLES When in use flags may come off their pole if not secured into place. There are a few ways in which you can deal with this problem. Fabric can be pinned to a wooden pole with a tack or drawing pin - this can cause damage to the flag fabric, and is not easy to remove for laundering. You can tape the flag to the pole with adhesive tape - this can unpeel in time. Double sided adhesive tape can be applied between the flag and the pole. The pole channel can be sewn to be a very tight fit - this also makes removal for laundering difficult. Velcro can be applied to the pole and inside the pole channel of the flag. |
